Mastrocola tapped to lead Greater Lowell Tech

TYNGSBORO -- Joseph Mastrocola was named the new superintendent-director of Greater Lowell Technical High School Tuesday night. The decision was made by the Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee on a split vote.

Mastrocola, former Groton-Dunstable school superintendent, beat out two other finalists for the job: Michael Barton, the sole internal candidate and director of curriculum, instruction and assessment at GLTHS, and Brad Morgan, principal of the Essex Technical High School in Danvers.

Should all go well with his contract negotiations, Mastrocola will be succeeding Roger Bourgeois with July 1 as a target start date.

"I'm excited about the fact that the School Committee has the faith to select me to be the next superintendent-director," Mastrocola told The Sun over the phone Tuesday night after accepting the appointment. "The opportunity to work with an outstanding administrative team and talented teaching staff is what I'm excited about. I look forward to serving the students in the four communities."

Students from Lowell, Dunstable, Dracut and Tyngsboro attend the school.

All but three School Committee members voted for Mastrocola: Fred Bahou of Lowell; Joseph M. Espinola III, of Dracut, Kempton P. Giggey, of Dunstable, Chairman Paul E. Morin, of Dracut; George A. Tatseos, of Tynsboro.

Raymond J. Boutin and George W.

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O'Hare, both of Lowell, voted for Barton and Curtis J. LeMay, also of Lowell, voted for Morgan. Each committee member had to say aloud who they were voting for.

After Mastrocola was determined to be the official pick, the School Committee decided to make their decision unanimous as a show of support.

"I can just say I wish Mr. Mastrocola the best and I'm sure he will be a fine superintendent of Greater Lowell Technical High School," Barton told The Sun on Tuesday night in reaction to the School Committee's decision.

"I feel like the School Committee made their choice and I enjoyed being part of the process and I wish Mr. Mastrocola the very best," Morgan said.

The School Committee will meet on June 6 to go over contract details and on June 15 will be entering into contract negotiations with Mastrocola, his legal counsel, and the committee's legal counsel.

Mastrocola, who is also a former Peabody school superintendent, said during his final interview last week that one of his priorities is to further elevate GLTHS by studying data and working with the school's leadership to try to help high-need students improve test scores. When asked about how he would address the problem of drug abuse and marijuana use among students at the school, he said he would push for relentless education.

"I think what's most important is to be able to come in and listen to some of the concerns and be able to manage some of the great things that have been happening here throughout the school district," Mastrocola said Tuesday night. "I'm obviously very excited and happy about the opportunity to lead the school district and I'm looking forward to joining the educational community here."

School Committee members who wished to discuss their thoughts on the three finalists did so before the vote.

Boutin said he was impressed with the candidates and with his fellow committee members for their time and dedication to the search. He spoke positively of each candidate and said he thinks they could all run the school.

"He was the only candidate that I heard that could hit the ground running and that's why I think he would make the best choice as superintendent," Boutin said of Barton.

LeMay, who voted for Morgan, said he felt there were strengths and weaknesses with each candidate.

"I'm not going to go in a long diatribe and start (the) pros and cons and what everybody has because that's my business and I'll stand by my vote when I make it," he said.

O'Hare pointed out that there were other candidates that "didn't make the cut" who he felt had a good background.

"I think we have some good candidates that are lined up here," he told his fellow committee members. "I think some are more experienced than others."

After the vote, O'Hare told The Sun that he voted for Barton because he has done good work at GLTHS.

"I might be a little dissatisfied that my candidate lost," he said, "but I'm satisfied that Mr. Mastrocola is the person that we'll be working with now."

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